Vibrotactile device for rehabilitative training of persons with lower-limb amputation

Individuals with prostheses use sensations experienced through the residual limb during ambulation to perceive the state of the prosthesis. For lower-limb prosthetic users, the loss of proprioception can affect stability and contribute to falls. In this work, we developed a vibrotactile device to enhance residual limb proprioception, which can be used for rehabilitation training of persons with transtibial amputation. The system consists of two vibrating motors, a solenoid, a goniometer, and a control interface. Two types of vibrotactile feedback can be generated: a short vibration via the motors and a single knock via the solenoid. The device is universally designed to fit standard prosthetic components and is inserted in line between the pylon and the socket adapter allowing the vibration to propagate from the unit to the residual limb. The design and the results of the initial functionality test of the vibrotactile unit are reported.